University at Albany
State University of New York
2005-2006 University Senate Executive Committee
Monday, November 7, 2005 3:30 – 5:30 Standish Board Room
Present:
J. Philippe Abraham, R. Collier, D. Dewar, S. Herbst, V. Idone, W. Lanford,
A. Lyons, C. MacDonald, S. Messner, E. Redkey, M. Rodriguez, J. Savitt,
M. Sherman, D. Shub, L. Snyder, D. Wagner, R. Zitomer
Guest:
J. Wagner
Minutes:
The minutes of September 26, 2005 were approved.
President’s Report: Presented by Provost Susan Herbst (the Provost was delayed; her report followed
the Chair’s Report and appears below).
Chair’s Report: Presented by Steven F. Messner, Chair
Council Summaries: S. Messner thanked everyone for submitting the council summaries prior to
the meeting. He indicated that he would circulate summaries to the full Senate before the Senate
meeting, and asked committee members to update as needed no later than noon the Friday before the
Senate meeting.
Compact Planning: The original procedure for governance involvement in compact planning
entailed the assignment of liaisons. It was decided at the last meeting that the Executive Committee
would serve as a clearinghouse for questions. S. Messner reported that he had sent a memo to relevant
administrators informing them of this decision and inviting them to direct inquiries to him.
Mission Review II: SUNY Provost Salins will visit as part of Mission Review II. The Provost
contacted S. Messner with tentative dates, and asked him to make himself available. Members noted
that there should be significant involvement of governance in the process. R. Collier observed that the
two SUNY-wide senators are supposed to participate, along with the Senate Chair. These three
members constitute a minimum of representatives from the Senate. S. Messner will contact the Provost
to communicate this minimum requirement and indicate the preference of the Executive Committee for
greater representation than the minimum.
Undergraduate Senators: N. Davis has been in contact with the student organizations and is
trying to get names of the undergraduate student senators. There was a problem with the student
elections, and they are being re-held on Monday and Tuesday, November 7th, and 8th. As soon as the
names are available, they will be transmitted to D. Dewar for council assignments.
SUNY Faculty Senate Meeting: S. Messner attended the fall plenary meeting, as did W. Lanford
and R. Collier. Two resolutions were passed that are relevant to the Executive Committee. The SUNYwide Senate passed a bill opposing the so-called “Academic Bill of Rights.” Other campuses have been
encouraged to endorse this action. This matter is currently on the agenda of CAFFECoR. The SUNY-
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wide Senate also passed a bill supporting the New York State College of Ceramics (NYSCC). Further
discussion was deferred to “new business.”
Senate-Sponsored Forum: The Chair announced that the Senate-sponsored forum on the
Solomon Amendment has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th , 6:30-9:00 PM. The forum
will begin with a video of a moot court demonstration of a case pending before the U. S. Supreme Court.
After the video, panelists, including representatives from student groups and J. Acker from Criminal
Justice, will offer remarks. S. Messner will moderate. This event is co-sponsored by the Division of
Student Success and University Auxiliary Services.
Brown Bag Lunch: S. Messner reminded members of a Brown Bag lunch with the President
scheduled for tomorrow.
President’s Report: Presented by Provost Susan Herbst
Board of Visitors: Provost Herbst reported that President Hall would like to put together a board
of visitors. This board would review our compacts and priorities and would offer advice. This is a great
way to get input, as well as to publicize the University. A Chair has been selected from Georgia, Steven
Portch. As soon as there are enough acceptances to complete the board, they will probably meet twice
in 2006.
Mission review II: Provost Herbst noted that she and President Hall were just coming on board
when Mission Review had been sent to SUNY. The report was very comprehensive and a lot of good
work was involved, but it was not very pointed in some respects. The compact planning process is
relevant to the Mission Review, but it will not be finished until April or May. The University has been
given a reprieve for the site visit. It will now be in mid-December. S. Messner informed the Provost of
the discussion earlier in the meeting about Senate representation in the process. The Provost indicated
that she would confer with President Hall and get back to him to work out logistics. At some point, a
document of “dialogue points” will be circulated.
URPAC: C. MacDonald asked about URPAC, a body that is supposed to be chaired by the
Provost, but has not been meeting. The UPC has taken over its role to some extent, but there is
considerable uncertainty about how URPAC should be replaced. C. MacDonald expressed concern that
appropriate mechanisms be in place to provide governance input on matters related to budgets and
resources. This issue needs to be resolved with the administration, perhaps through UPC.
Review of Senate Agenda for 11/21/2005:
The following items were on the agenda for the next Senate meeting as of the present date:
(a) UAC: Policies and Practices Concerning Undergraduate Academic Advising and Mentoring
(b) GAC: Proposal to Establish a Dual Degree Program, M.S.W/ M.P.H.
(c) UAC and GAC: Proposal to Establish a Combined Program, B.A . in Judaic Studies/
M.B.A.
(d) UAC and UPC: Proposal to Establish a University-wide Honors College
(e) UAC and UPC: School of Business Frosh Admissions
The Chair asked those responsible for introducing bills to be sure get clean copies of the final versions to
the Senate Office in time for circulation.
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New Business:
(a) GOV: Selection Committees for Distinguished Teaching and Service Ranks: The Governance
Council discussed the selection committee for the Distinguished Service and Distinguished
Teaching Professorships. They met with R. Bosco and W. Hedberg (who took over for D.
Farrell) to review the current policy for the committee membership. The Council determined
that the current policy needed some changes. They came up with the following list of
membership for the selection committee:
Chair of the Senate, 3 Distinguished Service Professors appointed by the
Executive Committee, with the President’s concurrence: Prof. David Andersen,
Prof John Pipkin, Prof. Edna Acosta-Belen, 3 Distinguished Teaching Professors
appointed by the Executive Committee with the President’s concurrence: Prof.
John Delano, Prof Jan Hagen, Prof. James Acker, 1 member designated by the
President as ex-officio: TBD, 1 graduate student: TBD, and 1 undergraduate
student: TBD.
The Council noted that there are no mechanisms for revolving terms, and it would like to initiate a
rolling cycle of members for continuity. And as per the guidelines, the President will appoint only
one member (the ex-officio). D. Dewar has talked to the prospective members, and they are
willing to serve on the committee.
(1) D. Dewar moved that the new composition of the selection committee be approved. The
motion was seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
(2) D. Dewar moved to approve the names on the list as shown for the current committee. The
motion was seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
(b) CAA: Addendum to Procedures for Joint Review of Departments’ Undergraduate Courses:
CAA proposes to expand the scope of the departments’ self-assessments of their undergraduate
programs. At present, departments are asked to assess only undergraduate major programs, even
though students complete much of their coursework outside of the major. CAA proposes that
reviewed academic units, in addition to periodic review of undergraduate major programs, shall
evaluate the manner and extent to which a reviewed academic unit’s undergraduate courses serve
those undergraduate students whose majors are located outside the department, school, or
program.
M. Sherman raised the issue of whether CAA has the authority to institute such a change and
report it to the Senate, or if a bill is required. Discussion ensued about the rationale for the change
and proper procedure. It was decided that CAA has broad authority to interpret policies pertaining
to these matters, and thus that a report to the Senate is appropriate. It was noted that any senator is
entitled to challenge items in a council report on the Senate floor.
(c)_Religious Holidays and the Academic Calendar: Prior to the meeting, the Chair had circulated
to the Committee a letter from Senator Range expressing his views on the religious holidays issue,
a memo from J. Reilly summarizing legal advice, and a draft motion to allow senators to vote on
different options. Extensive discussion ensued. M. Rodriguez reported her experience that many
faculty are not aware of this discussion. She noted that she is trying to get the word out. In
discussions with faculty, she has encountered divergent views on the matter.
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There was a motion to follow parliamentary procedures to continue discussion. The motion was
seconded and passed.
L. Redkey reported that the GSO would be meeting this Friday and that this would be the first
time a large group of Graduate Students will have had the opportunity to discuss this issue. She
indicated that graduate students would object to being presented with the three options in the draft
that had been circulated, because they would feel that they had not been given the opportunity for
meaningful input.
D. Shub stated that there are no clear and compelling justifications to cancel classes for religious
holidays, until we actually change the policy and see if there are administrative disruptions.
.
C. MacDonald introduced a motion to go forward with the ballot with 3 options enumerated in the
draft that had been circulated (after some minor editing.) The motion was seconded. Some
friendly amendments were suggested. After some discussion, the motion was withdrawn.
D. Shub introduced a motion to bring to the Senate the bill on the calendar policy proposed by
ULC last spring. This bill stipulates that classes not be suspended for religious holidays. The
motion was seconded. Discussion about wording ensued, and a minor modification was made to
make clear that the policy does not apply to religious holidays that are also federal holidays. The
motion as amended passed unanimously.
D. Shub moved that the Executive Committee formally endorse the option contained in the bill to
be introduced on the Senate floor. The motion was seconded. Several committee members argued
that taking a stand at this stage would be premature, given that more input is expected at the
Senate meeting. The motion was defeated. The bill will thus be presented to the Senate without
any endorsement. Depending on the outcome of the Senate meeting, the Executive Committee
might decide to take a formal stand on the policy at its next meeting.
(d) Alfred University and the New York State College of Ceramics (NYSCC): R. Collier reported
that NYSCC has been having a great deal of difficulty retaining its identity and integrity, given a
series of actions over an extended period of time taken by administrators at Alfred University.
The situation has recently deteriorated. At the fall plenary meeting, the SUNY Faculty Senate
passed a resolution in support of the NYS College of Ceramics. Other campuses have been
encouraged to endorse this resolution. R. Collier moved that the Executive Committee introduce a
resolution to the University Senate making such an endorsement. The motion was seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
(e) Campus governance: R. Collier reported that at the request of Potsdam, the Senate approved a
resolution that “Campus governance organizations should be formally consulted and involved
before an Interim President or Unit Head is appointed.
Meeting adjourned: Next meeting Monday, December 5, 2005, President’s Conference Room
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